In Pictures: CSIRAC - Australia's first digital computer

Sometimes, it's the oldest machines that are the most fascinating. We take an in-depth look at CSIRAC, Australia's first digital computer.

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

We spend most of our waking hours testing the latest hardware to come through our labs, but like a lot of technology users we find the old stuff can sometimes be equally fascinating. 63 years ago, CSIRAC - pronounced "sigh-rack" - ran its first test program at the CSIRO Radiophysics Laboratory in Sydney. It was Australia's first digital computer and only the fourth stored program computer in the world. Using valve technology and World War II radar systems as a starting point, the CSIRAC was built largely independently from similar ventures overseas.

In the following article, we take an look back at CSIRAC through a series of vintage and modern day photographs (most of which were kindly supplied by the Museum of Victoria). To learn more about this fascinating local IT milestone, take a look at the rest of the gallery. Click the photos to enlarge them.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

CSIRAC (an acronym for 'Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Automatic Computer') was a valve-driven computer that ran its first test program in 1949, back when it was known as 'CSIR Mk1'. The main system comprised nine steel cabinets containing 2000 valves that weighed over 7000kg.

CSIRAC stored data using mercury acoustic delay lines; an early type of serial-access refreshable memory. It boasted a 1000Hz memory clock and a serial bus that transferred one bit at a time. After experiments with punch card inputs, the machine graduated to using paper tape.

Like all computers of the time, CSIRAC did not have an operating system. A programming language, called INTERPROGRAM, was eventually written for the system in 1960.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

During its 'CSIR Mk1' years, the machine was primarily used for problem-solving within the field of radiophysics. It was decommissioned in 1955 and shipped to the University of Melbourne where it began the second stage of its career as 'CSIRAC'. It took the University of Melbourne almost a year to reassemble the computer (there were no instruction manuals in those days).

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

During its eight years of operation at the University of Melbourne, CSIRAC provided a variety of computing services to an equally diverse array of clients. These included calculations for weather forecasting, forestry, loan repayments, building design, psychological research and electricity supply.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: CSIRAC twin triode vacuum tube logic elements.

The CSIRAC is responsible for several computing milestones. In addition to being Australia's first computer, it was also the first computer to play digital music anywhere in the world (click here to listen to a CSIRAC music emulator). CSIRAC was also capable of running primitive computer games via its six small console screens, switches and cabinet lights.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

The CSIRAC console loosely resembled the cockpit of an aeroplane. From here, the technician could initiate, monitor and halt a program as well as control the tape readers and punches.

The CSIRAC console consisted of six screens (which displayed the contents of the memory and arithmetic registers), a loudspeaker (to signal that a particular event had been reached in a program) and myriad operational switches. For convenience, the CSIRAC teleprinter and a 5 hole punch were also located on the console.

The console was a later addition to the CSIRAC: it was installed after 1955. Previously, the switches and monitors stood freely on separate stands.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: CSIRAC's Program and Data Preparation Station (12 channel paper tape reader and control panel/switchboard).

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: CSIRAC control panel/switchboard.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

CSIRAC as it looks today at the Museum of Victoria. It is the only fully intact first-generation computer still surviving anywhere in the world. (Despite an impressive display of blinking lights, the computer is not actually switched on whilst being exhibited, however.)

[Image credit: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Compared to CSIRAC, a modern desktop PC processes about two million times faster and has a memory capacity 300,000 times greater. It's also 1,000 times lighter and uses 3,000 times less electricity. That said, the system was very impressive for its time. Prior to CSIRAC, complex computations were calculated by hand or with mechanical adding machines. By contrast, CSIRAC could perform calculations at 1000 operations per second.

[Image credit: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Like most early computers, CSIRAC was very temperamental. Explains CSIRAC maintenance engineer Jurij Semkiw: "CSIRAC was a serial machine, requiring a precise relationship between the length of the mercury delay lines and the frequency of the main clock, which in turn were dependent on temperature and supply voltages. This necessitated continual adjustment as it would only work within a limited range. This never-ending work was the responsibility of the maintenance engineers. CSIRAC users were only permitted to make elementary adjustments."

The system generated so much heat, cool air needed to be blown up through the cabinets from the basement below.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

CSIRO Division of Building Research contributor Don Beresford holds up a piece of 12 hole paper tape used for program input. Pictured in the foreground are a custom made hand punch, editing plate and control panel/switchboard.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: CSIRAC memory cabinet, 1952. The storage system's mercury delay lines can be seen on the stand in the foreground.

The system comprised nine cabinets in all. The five front row cabinets contained power supplies, input and output circuitry, clock and control circuits, arithmetical circuits and memory control circuits. The four back row cabinets contained power supplies, auxiliary store control circuits, disk drive, auxiliary test power supplies and memory control circuits.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: CSIRAC power supply cabinet. CSIRAC's input power supply was three phase 415 volts, with a power rating of 30,000 watts. The cabinet had doors on the front and the back for easy access.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: Pictured: auxuillary storage used between 1950-52. It was replaced by a disc when CSIRAC resumed operations in Melbourne in 1956.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

In 1964, CSIRAC was replaced by an IBM 7044. Dr. Frank Hirst switched the system off for the last time. "It was like something alive dying," commented one observer.

[Image credit: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Although it ceased operations way back in 1964, CSIRAC managed to survive the scrapheap. As one of the world's first computers, it's historical significance was recognised. After spending many years in storage, the entire system was eventually transported to the Museum of Victoria, where it resides today.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: Dismantled sections of CSIRAC being loaded for transportation to the Museum of Victoria in 1992.

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: CSIRAC programming manual written for the Computation Laboratory University of Melbourne.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: CSIRAC temperature-controlled memory 'hot box' containing long mercury delay lines. The enclosure was necessary, as any variation in the temperature would affect the timing in the delay lines and cause disruptions to operations.

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: Custom-built valve tester used to monitor the properties of the valves used in CSIRAC. Valves deteriorate over time and the tester was used to check that they were still suitable for use.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

Pictured: CSIRAC teleprinter, used for data output.

[Image credit: Museum of Victoria]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

CSIRAC is currently on display at Melbourne Museum. We highly recommend you visit the Museum web site for more information. Better still, if you are lucky enough to be in the area, why not visit the Museum and see it for yourself.

[Image credit: WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images]

CSIRAC: Australia's first digital computer

We spend most of our waking hours testing the latest hardware to come through our labs, but like a lot of technology users we find the old stuff can sometimes be equally fascinating. 63 years ago, CSIRAC - pronounced "sigh-rack" - ran its first test program at the CSIRO Radiophysics Laboratory in Sydney. It was Australia's first digital computer and only the fourth stored program computer in the world. Using valve technology and World War II radar systems as a starting point, the CSIRAC was built largely independently from similar ventures overseas.

In the following article, we take an look back at CSIRAC through a series of vintage and modern day photographs (most of which were kindly supplied by the Museum of Victoria). To learn more about this fascinating local IT milestone, take a look at the rest of the gallery. Click the photos to enlarge them.

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